MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The Indians need starter, not relievers. They have bullpen guys by the truckload and manager Terry Francona makes sure they all stay busy.

Yet good arms are hard to ignore no matter how much surplus is stockpiled in the warehouse. It happened not once, not twice, but three times over the weekend when the Indians took three out of four games from AL Central-leading Detroit at Comerica Park.

In the second game of the Saturday's day-night doubleheader a familiar face took the mound for the Indians in the eighth inning of a 2-2 game with the heart of the Tigers lineup order due to bat. All Carlos Carrasco did was strikeout Miguel Cabrera, retire Victor Martinez on a full-count grounder to second base and erase J.D. Martinez on another grounder to second.

Carrasco, the failed starter and current long man, topped out at 98 mph.

When the Indians scored three runs in the top of the ninth for 5-2 victory and a doubleheader sweep, the win went to Carrasco (3-3, 3.67).

"There was nowhere to put anybody," said manager Terry Francona. "He went right through the heart of their order. He was tremendous and he's earning more responsibility."

Francona has been looking for a bridge to carry the starters to the late-inning relievers such as Cody Allen and Bryan Shaw. John Axford has been growing into that role. Carrasco might be as well.

Carrasco started the year in the rotation and went 0-3 with a 6.95 ERA (17 earned runs in 22 innings). He was moved to the bullpen at the end of April and has a 1.57 ERA in 20 appearances. In his last 15 appearances, he has 25 strikeouts, while allowing two earned runs in 25 innings.

Francona said there are still people in the Indians' organization who believe Carrasco can return to the rotation one day, but it's doubtful he's going anywhere right now.

"Look at what he's done since he's gone to the pen," said Francona. "He's lowered that ERA which is hard to do. When you have a high ERA with starter's innings to lower it out of the bullpen is really difficult. "

When it comes to running a bullpen – who faces who and in what inning -- pitcher vs. batter matchups are critical for any manager. Carrasco, however, is an exception.

"Because of his matchups when he was starting, a lot of them don't look good on paper," said Francona. "But when you watch in the bullpen and he's been a different pitcher. You almost have to throw out some of the matchups and pitch him when it fits because he's been a different pitcher in the pen."

It's the reason Francona handed him the ball Saturday night.

"He's earned that," said Francona. "You always have it in the back of your mind that there are situations where you don't pitch him because he can pitch multiple innings. But I think he deserves to be in the mix that when the game is on the line, you can pitch him because it seems like he's been pitching better like that."

While Carrasco has been up-and-down with the Indians since 2009, two lesser-known arms made an impression in Sunday's 5-1 loss.

Right-hander CC Lee relieved starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth with two on, one out and the Tigers leading, 4-0. After a double steal by Andrew Romine and Austin Jackson put runners on second and third, Lee struck out Ian Kinsler and Cabrera to end the inning.

The Tigers loaded the bases in the sixth against Lee and rookie left-hander Kyle Crockett relieved and struck out Alex Avila and Romine to end the inning.

"I think that's what CC can do," said Francona. "As he gains confidence, he can get out good hitters. Then Crockett comes in and bails him out. I think they can complement each other very well."

Carrasco and Lee are 27. Crockett is 22.

On a team loaded with relievers, the arms just keep coming. Carrasco, who has always had a great arm, seems to have found a home in the pen, while Lee and Crockett could be the right-lefty combination of the future. Lee could be optioned to Columbus on Tuesday when the Indians add starter Danny Salazar, but it never hurts to have talented inventory on hand to help the big league club or use as bargaining chips as the July 31st trade deadline approaches.

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